Jack-lever connection



E. J. VAN FLEET.

JACK LEVER CONNECTION. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25. 191-8.

' Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Z, I! 2 All: wmam UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELON J'. VAN FLEET, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM E. PRATT,0F

. i CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

JACK-LEVER CONNECTION.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELON'J. VAN FLEET, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Joliet, in the county of Will and State ofIllinois,.have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in aJack-Lever Connection; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved type of lifting jack wherein aslotted handle is adjustably connected to a fulcrumed jack actuatinglever in a manner to permit the handle to be readily engagedlongitudinally in the lever for operatingthe'jack, or to permit the sameto be swung downwardly into a position out of the way without detachingthe handle from the lever.

It is an object of this invention to construct a lifting-jack wherein anactuating handle is adjustably connected with a fulcrumed lever topermit the handle to be moved from anoperating positionto an inoperativeposition without detachment from the lever.

Another object of the invention is to construct a jack havin anactuating handle pivotally and slidab y connected with the jack lever topermit movement of the han- .dle when not in use into position out ofthe way alongside of the ack standard without necessitating detachmentof said handle from x thelever.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to provide a jack with afulcrumed bifurcated lever having a slotted handle engaged on a pincarried by the lever to permit the handle tobe disposed co-axially insaidlever or at an angle thereto without ne not in use or be slidablyengaged in said lever when it is desired to operate the jack. Other andfurther important objects of this invention will be apparent fromthedisclosures in the specification and drawings.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1918. Serial No. 263,981.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

(hi the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a central vertical section taken through a jack embodyingthe principles of this invention, showing parts in elevation. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2, of Fig. 1, showing thehandle in position to permit operation of the jack.

Fig. is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through the jack levershowing the handle connected therewith, and the handle operation indotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44, of Fig. 3, showing the handle inoperating position inserted into the lever.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1, indicates a base, having integrally formedthereon an upright hollow standard 2, open at its upper end and providedwith a vertical slot 3, in

the front side thereof extending upwardly from the base 1, to about halfthe height of i the standard. Formed integrally upon the upper rearportion of the standard 2, is a box or housing 4:, having an opening 5,in the upper portion of the rear wall thereof.

Slidably engaged in the standard 2, is a main rack 6, having rigidlysecured on the upper projecting end thereof a rest or head Integral withthe head 7, is the upper curved end of an outer or auxiliary verticalrack 8, disposed to the front of the standard 2, and having the lowerend secured to the lower end of the main rack 6,

by means of a screw bolt 9, which projects through a sleeve 10,integrally formed on the lower inner side of the auxiliary rack. Thesleeve 10, projects through the slot 3, of the standard. Adjustablyengaged on the auxiliary rack '8, is a lifting foot 11, which isprovided with an integral projection or heel 12, adapted to engage theupwardly directed teeth of the auxiliary rack to removably hold thelifting foot in an adjusted position on said auxiliary rack, as shown inFi 1.

K fulcrum pin 13, is secured transversely in the housing 4:, at thelevel of the opening 5, and fulcrumed on said pin isan actuating levercomprising side walls 14;, having the inner ends reduced to form arms15. Integrally connecting the side walls 14, is a top wall 16, the innerend of which is bent or curved to form a stop 17. The lower edges of thelever side walls are integrally connected by means of a short bottomwall 18, the inner portion of which is bent or curved to form a stop 19.The side, top and bottom walls of the lever form a chamber 20. Asclearly shown in Fig. 3, the top wall 16, is longer than the bottom Wall18, and terminates at a distance from the outer end of the lever. Thereduced lever arms 15, are each provided with an inner opening 21, andan outer opening 22. The fulcrum pin 13, projects through the leveropenings 21, and holds the lever fulcrumed in position projectingoutwardly through the housing opening 5.

An upper dog or pawl 23, adapted for engagement with the rack 6, ispivotally mounted in the housing st, by means of a pin 24, between thelever arms 15. The pin 2st, is engaged in the lever arm openings 22. Alower dog or pawl 25, is pivotally mounted within the housing below theupper pawl, and is adapted for engagement with said rack6. A red 26, ispivotally connected to the lower end of the upper pawl 23 and slidablyconnected to the iower end of the pawl 25. Secured within the housing l,is a spring 27, having .the upper end thereof connected with the rod 26,for normally holding the pawls in engagement with the rack 6. Disposedwithin the housing 4, adjacent to the spring 27,is a member 28, adaptedto be shifted from the exterior of the housing to cause said spring tomove he pawls 23 and 25, out of engagement with the main rack 6.

Adjustably disposed between the outer portions of the lever side walls14, is the innerend of an I-cross-seetioned handle 29, provided with alongitudinal slot 80, in the web portion at the inner end of saidhandle. To hold the handle 29, adjustably connected with the lever andto prevent detachment of thehandle' therefrom, a retaining bolt or guidepin 31, projects transversely through the handle slot 80, and has theends thereof rigidly secured in the outer end portions of the lever sidewalls 1 1.

The operation is as follows:

The particular featuresof the jack disclosed are the novel constructionof the jack lever and the handle which, as described, is adjustablyconnected against disengagement with the lever to permi the handle to beeither slidably inserted longitudinally into the chambered lever when itis desired to operate the jack, or to permit said handle to be swunginto a position out of the way with the outer end resting on the jackbase 1, as shown in F 1, when the jack is not in use. This arrangementpermits the ban dle 29, to be associated with the fulcrumed lever at alltimes, and prevents loss of the handle.

The aek parts are normally positioned as shown in Fig. 1, with thehandle 29, swung into its lowermost position out of the way. To operatethe jack the handle is swung upwardly into alinement with the lever, sothat the outer end of the handle slot 30, has the retaining pin 31,seated therein. In this position the handle is pushed longitudinallyinto the chamber 20, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, with the innerend of said handle disposed between the upper lever wall 16, andthelower lever wall 18. The stops 17 and 19, serve to limit the inwardmovement of the handle, or the pin 31., may serve to limit the inwardmovement of the handle when the outer end of the slot 30, strikes saidpin. The jack is operated to lift a load by s vinging the handle 29,downwardly into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, and thenupwardly, repeating the operation whereby the main rack 6 and theauxiliary rack S, are simultaneously raised a notch at a time. The loadto be lifted may either rest upon the rack head 7, or upon the liftingfoot 11. To release the jack the member 28, is actuated from theexterior of the housing 4, to shift the spring 27, for urging the pawls22-3 and 25, out of engagement with the teeth of the main rack 6, thuspermitting the racks to slide downwardly into normal position on thestandard 2. When the jack is not in use the handle 29, is pulledoutwardly and then swung downwardly into a position out of the wayalongside of the standard 2, with the outer end of the handle resting onthe base 1. The pin 31, serves as a means for preventing detachment ofthe handle from the jack lever.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention, andI therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

A jack lever connection embracing a pivoted lever comprising side walls,means integrally connecting said side walls forming a chamber, a pinrigidly disposed transversely between said side walls to the out I sideof said means, stops formed on said means, and a slotted handle engagedon said pin between said side walls adapted to be longitudinallyinserted into said chamber and against said stops, or be pulled out ofsaid chamber and swung at an angle to said lever without requiringdetachment from said pin.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto suhscribed my name in the presenceof two sub scribing witnesses.

ELON J. VAN FLEET. itnesses F. H. KEELER, J W. BEAMAN.

